Alonso turns 45: From oldest F1 champion to more records still within reach
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20:00, 29 Jul
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Kieran Lynch
Fernando Alonso turns 45 today and few drivers have defied the passage of time quite like the two-time Formula 1 world champion.
The Spaniard was 25 when he won the last of his drivers' championships and although he competed for more titles over the following decade, it feels like a long time since he had a car that rewards his excellent driving ability.
Alonso's future in the sport past 2026 is still to be determined, with the Spaniard insisting F1 regulations are to have a bigger say on whether he stays, rather than Aston Martin's upgrade package. If he stays in F1, there are still some historic milestones he can achieve before he calls time on his racing days, if Aston Martin or another team give him a competitive car next season. Below, GPblog takes a look at the records he could still break during his Formula 1 career.
Oldest F1 drivers' champion
Should Alonso get a car capable of challenging for the drivers' championship next season, he could break a record set by Juan Manuel Fangio, which no one thought could be beaten.
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The Argentine legend won the last of his fifth drivers' titles at the age of 46 years and 41 days in 1957. Alonso turns 46 next year and this is a record he could still achieve, even if it looks unlikely given that he has been driving at the back of the field in an uncompetitive Aston Martin throughout this season.
Alonso would also be the first driver in his 40s to win a championship since Jack Brabham in 1966.
Oldest F1 champions - last time winners
- Juan Manuel Fangio (1957) - 46 years and 41 days
- Giuseppe Farina (1950) - 43 years and 308 days
- Jack Brabham (1966) - 40 years and 155 days
- Graham Hill (1968) - 39 years and 262 days
- Nigel Mansell (1992) - 39 years and 8 days
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Oldest driver to take a pole position and fastest lap
Should Alonso decide to race until the 2028 season, Alonso could break records for the oldest polesitter and oldest driver to take a fastest lap.
Giuseppe Farina at 47 years and 79 days at the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix has held the oldest polesitter record for 72 years. Fangio holds the oldest fastest lap setter record at 46 years and 209 days.
Oldest polesitter (only the last pole position for each driver listed)
- Giuseppe Farina (1954 Argentine Grand Prix) - 47 years and 79 days
- Juan Manuel Fangio (1958 Argentine Grand Prix) - 46 years and 209 days
- Jack Brabham (1970 Spanish Grand Prix) - 44 years and 17 days
- Mario Andretti (1982 Italian Grand Prix) - 42 years and 196 days
- Nigel Mansell (1994 Australian Grand Prix) - 41 years and 97 days
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Oldest driver to take a fastest lap (only their last fastest lap listed)
- Juan Manuel Fangio (1958 Argentine Grand Prix) - 46 years and 209 days
- Piero Taruffi (1952 Swiss Grand Prix) - 45 years and 219 days
- Giuseppe Farina (1951 Italian Grand Prix) - 44 years and 321 days
- Jack Brabham (1970 British Grand Prix) - 44 years and 107 days
- Luigi Villoresi (1953 Dutch Grand Prix) - 44 years and 22 days
Longest gap between championships, wins and pole positions
Fernando Alonso has not won a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix
If Alonso returns to competitive machinery, he could still break the records for the longest gap between championships, wins and pole positions.
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This season marks 20 years since Alonso last won a drivers' championship. Should Alonso win the title before he retires, he would comfortably beat the record set by Niki Lauda, who won his first title in seven years when doing so with McLaren in 1984.
Riccardo Patrese holds the record for the longest gap between race victories with six years, six months and 28 days separating his wins at the 1983 South African Grand Prix and 1990 San Marino Grand Prix.
Alonso's former teammate Kimi Raikkonen holds the record for the longest gap between pole positions. After taking pole position for the 2008 French Grand Prix, his next pole position was eight years, 11 months and 6 days later at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix.
Records that look impossible for Alonso to beat
However, there are a number of records that even at the age of 45, Alonso is unlikely to beat.
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The oldest driver to win a race is Luigi Fagioli at the age of 53 years and 22 days at the 1951 French Grand Prix. Alonso would have to race until 2034 to have any chance of beating this record.
Meanwhile, Louis Chiron holds the records for the oldest driver to enter and start a race. The Monegasque was 55 years and 292 days old when he started the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix. He entered the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix at 58 years and 277 days, but did not qualify for the race. Alonso would have to continue driving until the 2040 season if he was to set the record for the oldest entrant for a Formula 1 race.
Oldest F1 race winner
- Luigi Fagioli (1951 French Grand Prix) - 53 years and 22 days
- Giuseppe Farina (1953 German Grand Prix) - 46 years and 276 days
- Juan Manuel Fangio (1957 German Grand Prix) - 46 years and 41 days
- Piero Taruffi (1952 Swiss Grand Prix) - 45 years and 219 days
- Jack Brabham (1970 South African Grand Prix) - 43 years and 339 days
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